[Evidence for the transmission of the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis by the sandfly Phlebotomus (Adlerius) turanicus Artemiev, 1974 in Turkmenistan].

Four sandfly [correction of mosquito] species were identified in all foci of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Turkmenistan. There is evidence that three of them (Phlebotomus papatasi, P. caucasicus, P. andrejevi) cannot be carriers of VL agent in Turkmenistan. The carrier of Leishmania infantum in Turkmenistan is likely to be the zooanthropophilic sandfly [correction of mosquito] P. turanicus that prevails in the settlements and their vicinities in the desert foothill plains and in the burrows of foxes. The time of the carrier activity is May to September, and its peak size is observed in mid-July. In September, the promastigote infection of P. turanicus is as high as 47.5%. The carrier size may vary with years, the infection of children and dogs ceased with the reduction in the P. turanicus size. There are evidence for the distribution of the carrier in the populated locality, dwelling and natural biotopes.